- Nov 13, 2006
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Division 3 – End of Season Review
South Morang
Ladder: 1st // 14 wins // 2 losses // 157.76 % // 87.50 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: Shane Whitnall – 36 goals.
Review: Well, what a turnaround for the Lions. They were the equal worst team in Division 3 in 2010 with just 2 wins, now outright top of the ladder in 2011 with just 2 losses. I haven’t seen them play much this year but I gather that there was a major change in attitude this year. New players and a fresh start and the Lions have dominated the season. There only blemishes were a tight loss to St.Marys in Round 1, and another close loss in Round 15 to the Redbacks. Although they finished top I would say they start as warm favourites for the Premiership. Anything can happen though! Troy Jinnette has been a consistently good player all year while Jason Ward and Matt Manning have featured in the best on a regular basis. I’m tipping the Lions to make the Grand Final with a win this week.
Parkside
Ladder: 2nd // 11 wins // 5 losses // 143.10 % // 68.75 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: Dallas King – 60 goals (Also competition Goal Kicking winner)
Review: Another solid season by the Red Devils. A few slip-ups and a couple of perhaps confidence dashing losses to the Lions mean Parkside will start as outside favourites going into Saturdays clash but will no doubt be ready to go! Dallas King again proved why he is one of the best players in Division 3, while Brad Hockey and the Gresham brothers have been fantastic (Once again). The biggest concern is the injuries to key players (i.e. Ross, Wise and Bennett). This will no doubt hinder the opportunity that the Red Devils have of going all the way in 2011. That being said, their team is full of experienced heads that have played finals footy the last 2 years, something that South Morang may lack. A loss this week would mean the Devils would face a sudden-death elimination final against Panton Hill or St.Marys, both worthy opponents.
St Marys
Ladder: 3rd // 11 wins // 5 losses // 123.02 % // 86.75 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: Matthew Patti – 35 goals.
Review: Another feel good story is the Burra. Last in 2010 (although having shown consistent improvement), now playing finals in just their second year of existence. St.Marys has shown that they can mix it with the big boys, but will have to bring their A-game come finals time. No player has featured in the best more than 6 times which indicates the Burra do not rely on great performances week in week out from an individual/s. Geoffrey Robinson, Matt Patti and Coby Shulz appeared in the best players regularly but a complete team performance is what is needed from the Burra in all finals games should they have any chance of claiming the ultimate glory.
Panton Hill
Ladder: 4th // 9 wins // 7 losses // 122.48 % // 56.35 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: Brendan O’Connor - 40 goals.
Review: An up and down season for the Redbacks, and certainly (one would think) not the end result they were striving for. None the less, they are still in finals and at full strength can without a doubt beat any opposition. Tristan Kreymborg has stood out and has made his presence felt this year in D3. Will Box again performed consistently and with the help of Joffa Byron and Brendan O’Connor, this team has the make-up of a premiership calibre outfit. That being said, the Redbacks have not played consistent footy in 2011 (injuries have not helped) and perhaps the wide open spaces of Epping Recreational Reserve will play against the Redbacks, who are used to the confined, inside, tough footy at Cracknell Reserve. All these questions will be answered in 3 weeks however. I’m tipping if the Redbacks can be fit and firing, then look out South Morang!
Reservoir
Ladder: 5th // 8 wins // 8 losses // 107.01 % // 50.00 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: Nicholas Georgievski - 36 goals.
Review: Some would say a failed season for the Mustangs, they finished 2nd last year and wanted finals again this year, this has not happened. The Mustangs seemed to have lost the mojo they had in 2010 and produced unbelievable performances against some teams, but horrendous performances against others. It is not all doom and gloom for Reservoir. Impressive performances from 17-year-old Reece Miller are very promising while Corey McGregor, Ben Mowlam and Richie Collins all had solid seasons. I’m sure if the Mustangs can get their best team on the park next year and play consistently, then they should be back in the top 4.
Watsonia
Ladder: 6th // 2 wins // 14 losses // 54.11 % // 12.50 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: Allan Young - 29 goals.
Review: Disappointing season to say the least for Watsonia. The Saints barely bothered most of the top teams after coming down from Division 2. This season is perhaps the aftermath of the disastrous 2010 season. Losing their 2 best players from last year (Mark Ventura and Michael Ryan) did not help the Saints, who seemed to lack leadership out of the field. No doubt that blooding the kids will pay dividends if they can hold on to them, which I’m sure they can. All that aside, there were games that Wats’ can be proud of, they just need more of them! Paul McConnell and Eldon Abbott stood out for the Saints, while young big-man Matt Crawford is full of potential. Let’s hope Watsonia can dig themselves out of this hole and produce a better performance in 2012.
Heidelberg West
Ladder: 7th // 1 win // 15 losses // 46.87 % // 6.25 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: David Fowler - 19 goals.
Review: Not much to be said about the Hawks. Another tough season for West, as they were able to pick up 1 solitary win. Respectable performances against top teams and more impressive performances against Watsonia and Reservoir showed that there is a lot of character in this team. The loss of Bennett Osbourne and Aidan Young were obvious blows for Heidelberg West, but the inclusion of the Fonua boys, in particular Noa, who looks like he is hot favourite for Heidelberg West’s B’n’F. The future is uncertain for the Hawks, but let’s hopes, for their sake and the leagues sake, that we see Heidelberg West produce better results in 2012.
That’s all from me and good luck to all teams in finals this week!
South Morang
Ladder: 1st // 14 wins // 2 losses // 157.76 % // 87.50 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: Shane Whitnall – 36 goals.
Review: Well, what a turnaround for the Lions. They were the equal worst team in Division 3 in 2010 with just 2 wins, now outright top of the ladder in 2011 with just 2 losses. I haven’t seen them play much this year but I gather that there was a major change in attitude this year. New players and a fresh start and the Lions have dominated the season. There only blemishes were a tight loss to St.Marys in Round 1, and another close loss in Round 15 to the Redbacks. Although they finished top I would say they start as warm favourites for the Premiership. Anything can happen though! Troy Jinnette has been a consistently good player all year while Jason Ward and Matt Manning have featured in the best on a regular basis. I’m tipping the Lions to make the Grand Final with a win this week.
Parkside
Ladder: 2nd // 11 wins // 5 losses // 143.10 % // 68.75 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: Dallas King – 60 goals (Also competition Goal Kicking winner)
Review: Another solid season by the Red Devils. A few slip-ups and a couple of perhaps confidence dashing losses to the Lions mean Parkside will start as outside favourites going into Saturdays clash but will no doubt be ready to go! Dallas King again proved why he is one of the best players in Division 3, while Brad Hockey and the Gresham brothers have been fantastic (Once again). The biggest concern is the injuries to key players (i.e. Ross, Wise and Bennett). This will no doubt hinder the opportunity that the Red Devils have of going all the way in 2011. That being said, their team is full of experienced heads that have played finals footy the last 2 years, something that South Morang may lack. A loss this week would mean the Devils would face a sudden-death elimination final against Panton Hill or St.Marys, both worthy opponents.
St Marys
Ladder: 3rd // 11 wins // 5 losses // 123.02 % // 86.75 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: Matthew Patti – 35 goals.
Review: Another feel good story is the Burra. Last in 2010 (although having shown consistent improvement), now playing finals in just their second year of existence. St.Marys has shown that they can mix it with the big boys, but will have to bring their A-game come finals time. No player has featured in the best more than 6 times which indicates the Burra do not rely on great performances week in week out from an individual/s. Geoffrey Robinson, Matt Patti and Coby Shulz appeared in the best players regularly but a complete team performance is what is needed from the Burra in all finals games should they have any chance of claiming the ultimate glory.
Panton Hill
Ladder: 4th // 9 wins // 7 losses // 122.48 % // 56.35 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: Brendan O’Connor - 40 goals.
Review: An up and down season for the Redbacks, and certainly (one would think) not the end result they were striving for. None the less, they are still in finals and at full strength can without a doubt beat any opposition. Tristan Kreymborg has stood out and has made his presence felt this year in D3. Will Box again performed consistently and with the help of Joffa Byron and Brendan O’Connor, this team has the make-up of a premiership calibre outfit. That being said, the Redbacks have not played consistent footy in 2011 (injuries have not helped) and perhaps the wide open spaces of Epping Recreational Reserve will play against the Redbacks, who are used to the confined, inside, tough footy at Cracknell Reserve. All these questions will be answered in 3 weeks however. I’m tipping if the Redbacks can be fit and firing, then look out South Morang!
Reservoir
Ladder: 5th // 8 wins // 8 losses // 107.01 % // 50.00 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: Nicholas Georgievski - 36 goals.
Review: Some would say a failed season for the Mustangs, they finished 2nd last year and wanted finals again this year, this has not happened. The Mustangs seemed to have lost the mojo they had in 2010 and produced unbelievable performances against some teams, but horrendous performances against others. It is not all doom and gloom for Reservoir. Impressive performances from 17-year-old Reece Miller are very promising while Corey McGregor, Ben Mowlam and Richie Collins all had solid seasons. I’m sure if the Mustangs can get their best team on the park next year and play consistently, then they should be back in the top 4.
Watsonia
Ladder: 6th // 2 wins // 14 losses // 54.11 % // 12.50 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: Allan Young - 29 goals.
Review: Disappointing season to say the least for Watsonia. The Saints barely bothered most of the top teams after coming down from Division 2. This season is perhaps the aftermath of the disastrous 2010 season. Losing their 2 best players from last year (Mark Ventura and Michael Ryan) did not help the Saints, who seemed to lack leadership out of the field. No doubt that blooding the kids will pay dividends if they can hold on to them, which I’m sure they can. All that aside, there were games that Wats’ can be proud of, they just need more of them! Paul McConnell and Eldon Abbott stood out for the Saints, while young big-man Matt Crawford is full of potential. Let’s hope Watsonia can dig themselves out of this hole and produce a better performance in 2012.
Heidelberg West
Ladder: 7th // 1 win // 15 losses // 46.87 % // 6.25 Win%
Leading Goal kicker: David Fowler - 19 goals.
Review: Not much to be said about the Hawks. Another tough season for West, as they were able to pick up 1 solitary win. Respectable performances against top teams and more impressive performances against Watsonia and Reservoir showed that there is a lot of character in this team. The loss of Bennett Osbourne and Aidan Young were obvious blows for Heidelberg West, but the inclusion of the Fonua boys, in particular Noa, who looks like he is hot favourite for Heidelberg West’s B’n’F. The future is uncertain for the Hawks, but let’s hopes, for their sake and the leagues sake, that we see Heidelberg West produce better results in 2012.
That’s all from me and good luck to all teams in finals this week!
